Grand Lake

With more than 500 surface acres, Grand Lake is the largest and deepest natural body of water in Colorado. Fed by the headwaters of the Colorado River and by snowmelt coming off of the Continental Divide, Grand Lake forms a continuous body of water with the neighboring Shadow Mountain Lake, and both lakes remain consistently full all year long. Grand Lake is surrounded by Rocky Mountain National Park on three sides, and it is located near the western entrance to the park.

Things to Do on Grand Lake

Since the quaint town of Grand Lake sits adjacent to the lake, there is plenty of lakeside shopping, dining & more on the historic boardwalk and in town.

There is plenty of family fun on the lake's beach where families can swim, fish, kayak, paddleboard and more. In addition, Grand Lake Marinais located on the beach. Here, visitors can rent paddle boats, leisure boats, pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks, and more.

Also located nearby, the Grand Lake Yacht Clubis a popular attraction for boaters. Located at 8,367 feet in elevation, Grand Lake Yacht Club is one of the highest yacht anchorages in the world. Since the club was founded in 1901, it also claims the title as one of the oldest clubs in the west. The Yacht Club sponsors an annual Regatta Week in mid-August, an incredible fun-filled event that is great for visitors and locals alike.

Enjoy summer boating, swimming or sailing in pristine waters framed by a panorama of a quaint mountain town in Grand Lake. Boating is one of the most popular activities on Grand Lake, including skiboating, pontoon boating, pleasure boating, sailing and more. While rentals are available, there are also public access points if you have your own boat to lauch! Learn more about boating in Grand County.

Fishing is also a popular Grand Lake pastime. With plenty of fish including rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, mackinaw, and kokanee salmon, you're sure to catch the big one! In addition to summer fishing, come back in the winter months to try your hand at ice fishing on the lake—there are even ice fishing contests in the area every year!

Looking for a different type of water? Take a short walk on the lake's east side, and you can find Adam's Falls. The walk is short and simple, and it leads you to a beautiful waterfall that feeds into the lake.

Events on Grand Lake

Every year for the 4th of July and for the area's New Year's Celebration, firework displays light up the sky and reflect into the lake. It is truly a spectacular sight for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, the Grand Lake Regatta and the Lipton Cup Races are hosted on the lake each year. View the Grand County events calendar to see all current event dates and details for Grand Lake events.

Is there anything better in summertime than boating on a mountain lake? If you ask us, the answer is "no, not really." While Colorado has dozens of great reservoirs and lakes to set sail on, few destinations offer so many choices in one place as Grand County. To help you navigate our five mountain lakes, we've compiled a guide to boating them: